History of The Club

During 1937 a group of Snettisham Beach bungalow owners interested in racing their various craft, came up with the idea of forming a sailing club. At that time there was no clubhouse and events were organised on the beach or in member's properties. In the following year 1938, the idea was realised, Snettisham Beach Sailing Club was officially registered and Mr. F. G. Kirkland became the Club's first elected Commodore; he went on to stand for 21 years and was made an Honourary Life President in 1959.

Unfortunately sailing was short lived due to the outbreak of WWII. All Club funds were blown on a "knees up" at the near-by Harrison's Holiday Camp, the Club put on hold until after the war and mines cleared from the area. Soon after, in 1946 the Club became affiliated to the R.Y.A. and sailing resumed. A mixture of boats raced under the handicap system, but Firefly and National 12 classes quickly became the preferred type of racing. A disused Army Hut was hired as the clubhouse from the local shingle company and for the next few years it became "plain sailing" until the devastation caused by the Great Flood of 1953. Lives & property were lost; to this day the Club still races memorials to members that perished, such as Peter Beckerton who lost his life trying to save others. His Mother, brothers and sisters clung to survival in a boat moored to their bungalow on the beach front that brutal January evening.

Once again the club re-opened, and grew year by year with additional classes of Enterprises and International 14's. In 1955 the Beckerton's property was sold to the Club and became the first freehold clubhouse. During the winter freeze of 1962 a hardy member built a Fireball from a set of plans in the veranda of his beach bungalow. Once launched, this new "planing" hull was a sensation and would change the preferred racing fleet at Snettisham for nearly two decades. The fleet quickly grew to over 50 boats. Snettisham boasted one of the largest Fireball fleets nationwide and the club went on to host European and World Championship Qualifiers in the late 70's and early 80's. The likes of Laurie Smith and Eddie Ward-Owen lead the fleet amongst over 100 other competitors at our events.

In 1966 the Sailing Club decided it needed larger premises and eleven members donated £200 each to the club to help fund the move. Together with proceeds from the sale of the Clubhouse the American Field Hospital site was purchased from the Snettisham Holding's Co. and the existing larger clubhouse was opened in 1967.

Dart 18's and Lasers had replaced the Fireball fleet by the mid 80's and developed into the dominant racing fleets until the turn of the century. The Dart Fleet staged National Open meetings and many of the Club's members travelled the circuit. Snettisham sailors produced impressive results with champions at National, Inland National and European championships.

In the new millennium Enterprises re-emerged and are now the strongest fleet. The Club also has a developing Laser Group fleet, a large Junior Topper fleet and the Dart 18's still remain a force to be reckoned with.

Currently the Club has a broad range of members and boats enjoying a very buoyant period.